More Latin in Our Future!?

It looks like Benedict is preparing a document for allow greater use of the Latin Mass in the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I am fine with that. The more diversity, the better. It's an important part of our tradition. I just wish that there was greater freedom granted to the current vernacular Mass. Every time there is word of a new Mass change or lectionary translation change, I have to take a deep breath, because they usually lead to something less progressive. The changes are usually throwbacks to more literal, less understandable translations; or they pontificate changes that demean the laity and deify the priest, because it seems that some bishops are concerned that the laity can not tell who the priest is, even though he's the only man wearing a dress.

So, like I said, I am all for more diversity in our liturgy styles. I just wish that the Vatican would pander to the progressives a little more (or at all) and not just worry about bringing the arch-conservative break away churches back into the fold. The greatest growing religion in America, last time I checked, is liberal Catholics becoming something else. It would be nice to try and put a stop to that.

A Faithful Catholic

More Lay Saints in Our Future

Benedict XVI has been a breath of fresh air compared to John Paul II. He has met with Hans Kung, allowed controversial issues to be discussed at bishops synods and the like. There is a lot more I hope for, but another seed of hope is his changes to determining the calandar of saints in the Roman Church's universal calander.

I guess it is really the Catholic Church's saint version of affirmative action. The article from CatholicNews.com states:

"Special consideration will be given to saints from countries not already represented in the general calendar and from underrepresented categories, such as laypeople, married couples and parents, the norms said. In addition, the norms said, 10 years should have passed since the canonization ceremony to ensure ongoing, widespread devotion."

In one sense the road to canonization is too complicated and too expensive. It would probably be better if the canonization process was mostly left up to the local or national church conferences. But the fact that in 25 years I might be able to open up a saint of the day book and see the greater international diversity of our church as well as more lay people is a fascinating thought. Maybe there is hope at the end of the tunnel.

A faithful Catholic

Zubik on Immigration

I saw today that Bishop Zubik of the Diocese of Green Bay put out a statement asking the Common Council of Green Bay to "vote against any initiative that would require documentation of residency for those seeking business licenses and prohibiting businesses from employing undocumented immigrants."

I'm very happy with his stance, and thought I should give him the recongnition that he deserves, but from now on I plan on making this blog limited to more in-house church issues. For the most part I do not have a problem with Catholic social teaching as such, but I do not want to make this a blog where I complain about our Archbishop, Timothy, not condemning the war in any substantial way. To his credit, he attended an ecumencial prayer service for peace a few weeks back. But I will leave that to others, since asking bishops to speak out against the war is not really a controversial in-house Roman Church issue, meaing that no bishop has threatened a politian who chooses to vote against the war with a "communion embargo." For good local information on the Catholic anti-war movement, I suggest checking out Catholics for Peace and Justice.

A Faithful Catholic